The Book Corner - Fall 2004
by Rachel DeHoyos, Manager Dollars for Scholars Programs

In the Spotlight:

Financial Aid for College
by Ronald W. Johnson and Marc Robinson

As college costs continue to escalate, scholarships are fast becoming an increasingly important part of a student's financial aid picture. As a Dollars for Scholars chapter, you can better understand the value of your scholarships and maximize their benefit if you know the elements and terminology involved with student financial aid.

One quick guide that can give you the basics is Financial Aid for College by Ronald W. Johnson, Director of Financial Aid at UCLA, and Marc Robinson, author of several personal finance books.

At only 72 pages, this book will make a great quick study for any reader trying to better understand the basic components involved in the student aid package.  From explaining the importance and process of completing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), to deconstructing the Student Aid Report (SAR), this book gets to the point through great visual charts and concise explanations about the financial aid process.

The world of student loans can be overwhelming and often detrimental to the success of a student remaining in college long enough to graduate.  Financial Aid for College provides 10 pages that quickly outline the different types of loans available and how to most responsibly manage and pay off the debt incurred by this type of aid.

We hope Financial Aid for College will get your chapter thinking about how you, too, can play an even larger role in making college more affordable through the scholarships you award to students this year.